A new door opens

Today I opened a new door when I spoke before a group of nursing students about living with an ostomy. Because of my fondness for those in health care, I immediately felt a sense of safety and comfort. After I shared my story, I answered questions ranging from diet to intimacy, to my wardrobe and outlook on life. I felt their compassion and acceptance, and was eager to help them understand how important their role is for the ostomy patient.

Nurses are the first to touch the lives of people post surgery and when the doors of your hospital room close, the relationship with your nurse can feel like a lifeline. It can be a very emotional time viewing your adjusted body, and in those first few days, a difficult and lonely place. You share intimately with the nurse who cares for your stoma, checks your output and tends to your incision. When you lay exposed and vulnerable, the caring hands of your nurse and confident touch can have a profound impact.

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